Blogs

"Donald Trump’s new American brand is a cautionary tale for all leaders."

Lessons Learned from the Return of the Ugly American

A leader’s image can become almost inseparable from the organisation he or she leads. Consumers’ perception of companies is often influenced by corporate leaders’ actions and what they communicate. Donald Trump is epitomising the “Ugly American”.

INSEAD Knowledge, Apr 2017

#BeBold ForChange

International Women's Day

As International Women's Day is celebrated today across the globe, we asked ourselves what we would pledge to drive ground-breaking action within organisations to truly drive the greatest change for women.

KDVI Research Lab, Mar 2017

"Malignant narcissist as ticking time bombs"

Malignant Manipulators: Ticking Time Bombs

Malignant narcissists not only believe they are always right, they vindictively go out on a limb to prove it.

INSEAD Knowledge, Mar 2017

"Playing the fool in the workplace"

Why Every Workplace Needs a Fool

Office tricksters tell it like it is and contribute to creative growth.

INSEAD Knowledge, Feb 2017

“Wealth doesn’t last more than three generations”

Saving a Family Business from Emotional Dysfunction

This blog looks at how successfully handing on a family business requires mastery not only of the business but also of the self.

Harvard Business Review, Feb 2017

"Leadership lessons from a tumultuous time"

What Leaders Can Learn From the Rise of the Outsider

Times of change and distrust create challenges and some valuable lessons for leaders.

INSEAD Knowledge, Dec 2016

"Ways to Manage Difficult Bosses"

What to Do When You Hate Your Boss?

This article explores the options available to anyone who has to manage a bad boss. Much of it will feel like common sense. But people often forget that it’s in their power to improve bad situations, so having the options systematically laid out can be very helpful.

HBR, Dec 2016

"The tragedy of the commons"

The EU Cannot Be at the Mercy of the Few

A small group of farmers blocking an important trade agreement highlights the EU’s vulnerability to the “tragedy of the commons”.

INSEAD Knowledge, Oct 2016

"Obsession for digital technology"

Addressing Digital Addiction

Digital technology has greatly enhanced our lives both inside and outside the workplace. But it is not all positive. When does an obsession for digital technology become a serious health problem?

INSEAD Knowledge, Oct 2016

"A large chair doesn’t make a king"

Lessons in Destructive Leadership from Africa

Africa is a cautionary example of the need for checks and balances against the abuse of power.

INSEAD Knowledge, Oct 2016

"For many executives walking away can be the hardest part of the job"

Prepare Your Exit From the Start

As a leader you need to focus on your successors early in the game. Doing so will not only underpin the long-term sustainability of your enterprise, it may give you a shot at immortality.

INSEAD Knowledge, Sep 2016

"How would you like to be remembered?"

The Epitaph Question

How would you like to be remembered? What would you like to be your epitaph? Thoughts about our legacy can influence our life’s trajectory. Consciously or unconsciously, they impact our life’s choices. Thinking about how you would like to be remembered can be a catalyst for radical change.

INSEAD Knowledge, Sep 2016

"Leadership in the age of rage"

Reflective Leaders Needed in the Age of Rage

When collective emotions gather steam, knee jerk reactions can make a bad situation worse.

INSEAD Knowledge, Aug 2016

"How to manage brilliant but tumultuous leaders"

Managing Thrill Seekers

Thrill-seeking employees' addiction to risk can create havoc in the workplace. Managed correctly, their fearlessness can be a great advantage to any organisation.

INSEAD Knowledge, Jul 2016

"Personailty and techno-stress"

The Human Cost of Digital Technologies

As companies race towards digitisation, the expectation that people in organisations need to be permanently on-call is creating very human challenges. This blog reports on a research study lwhich looks at how individuals cope with technostress, and the mediating role personality plays.

INSEAD Knowledge, May 2016

"Harems and fawning power plays"

Leadership “Harem” Style

When there’s no specific goal or role for its members, and constructive discussion makes way for fawning power plays, executive teams become little more than harems for dysfunctional leaders.

INSEAD Knowledge, May 2016

"Insatiable desire for more can be destructive"

Seven Signs of The Greed Syndrome

It is said that without greed we would still be living in caves but, left unchecked, the insatiable desire for more and better material things can be destructive.

INSEAD Knowledge, Apr 2016

"Leaders need emotional intelligence to create meaning"

Evolving Leadership in the Digital Age

To have executives change character will always be an uphill struggle but they can learn to improve their behavioural reactions to difficult situations and develop greater emotional intelligence that will turn them into more effective leaders.

INSEAD Knowledge, Apr 2016

"When drive and commitment are too much"

Are You an Alpha Male Leader?

This blog looks at the place for alpha-like behaviour in organisations. It argues that the need the drive, competitiveness and commitment of such leaders should be balanced with models of leadership that connect, build and nurture.

INSEAD Knowledge, Mar 2016

"M&As: The untold story"

Making Mergers Less of a Crapshoot

This blog looks at the very human factors are at play in mergers and acquisitions. Paying attention to them can increase ones chance of success.

INSEAD Knowledge, Feb 2016

"A holistic approach to business education"

Finding Balance in Business Education

To create responsible leaders of the future, business schools need to adopt a more holistic approach to education.

INSEAD Knowledge, Nov 2015

"Denialism, office politics, productivity"

Blinded by Belief

This blog entry with the Harvard Business Review explores how denialists can have a devastating effect on office politics and productivity.

INSEAD Knowledge, Aug 2015

"The uses of humour in the workplace"

The Dark Side of a Funny Situation

This blog looks at the sources of humor and to distunguish between humour that is congenial and empathetic and humour that is dysfunctional and divisive.

INSEAD Knowledge, Jun 2015

"Fairy tales for today’s executives"

Leadership Lessons from the Brothers Grimm

This blog looks at the leadership journey as a fairy tale and cautions against the five deadly dangers of leadership.

INSEAD Knowledge, May 2015

"Let's talk about sex in the boardroom"

The Sexual “Cloud” in the Executive Suite

Manfred Kets de Vries explores whether sex and man’s unconscious drive for survival are keeping women locked out of the C-suite.

INSEAD Knowledge, May 2015